Conference noted::bicycle

1824.0. "Mass. Bicycle Legislation pending" by ULTRA::WITTENBERG (Uphill, Into the Wind) Fri Jan 18 1991 14:17

    Thanks to Jeff Bell (Tallis::Bell) for this information on pending
    legislation about bicycles in Mass.

This article recently appeared in The Boston Cylist, the newsletter
of the Boston Area Bicycle Coallition (BABC).  It is copyrighted by
them, but I don't think they would mind if I retyped it here.


-Jeff Bell



    Seven bicycle related bills filed for 1991 legislative session

        by Andy Rubel and John Allen

    Several BABC members and other have filed a total of seven bills
for the 1991 session.  These bills will promote bicycling as
transportation and address safety issues.  All are being supported
by the BABC.  Creating bicycle friendly cities and towns will help
in reducing health care costs due to motor vehicle by increasing the
percentage of trips by bicycle and reducing auto congestion, noise,
and pollution.  The American Lung Association estimates the health
care cost of motor vehicle air pollution to be between $109 million
and $2.3 billion per year!  The following lists each bill and the
legislator sponsoring it:

    The Bicycle Program Office bill creates this office in the
Mass. Department of Public Works (MDPW).  This office will implement
bicycle programs already mandated by the legislature in 1977.  It
institutionalizes bicycle planning in the MDPW and other departments
including the Registry of Motor Vehicles and the Department of
Education.  Florida's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program has
demonstrated the ability to more than pay for itself and to obtain
federal funds otherwise lost. Such an office will magnify the
effectiveness of various bicycle related projects by coordinating
them. (Rep. David Cohen)

    The Bicycle Program Fund bill allocates one percent of the gasoline
excise tax for bicycle transportation facilities.  Oregon passed a
similar bill in 1971, with great success in increasing bicycling as
transportation in that state.  A stable source of funding will ensure
that bicycle facilities and access are built and maintained.
(Rep. Barbara Gardner)

    The Traffic Safety Education bill requires the Director of
Physical Education in the State Department of Education to develop,
implement, and review pedestrian, bicycle, and motor vehicle
occupant safety education in public elementary and high schools (in
cooperation with the Bicycle Program Manager and the State Bicycle
Advisory Board).  Most bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are
children who have not learned traffic safety; traffic accidents are
the leading cause of death and disability to school-age children in
the US. (Rep. David Cohen)

    The Car Door bill requires motorists and their passengers to look
for traffic before opening car doors, as stipulated in the Uniform
Vehicle Code but not yet accepted in Massachusetts.  As many as
eight percent of car-bike collisions are with suddenly-opened car
doors.  In the Netherlands, driving students who don't look for cars
and bikes before opening the door fail the test. (refiled by Rep.
Barbara Gardner)

    The Bicycle Parking Bill requires off-street parking areas to provide
a minimum number of bicycle parking spaces.  Language is being
drafted; call the BABC [491-ride] to add your ideas and opinions or for
updates. (Rep. Barbara Gardner)

    The bicycle Registration bill is under discussion.  The current
proposal is mandatory registration only for new, adult bicycles at
the point of sale statewide.  Registration for all other bicycles is
voluntary.  All proceeds go to the Bicycle Program fund, not to the
state's general coffers.  The advantages are a statewide theft
recovery program and funding for the state bicycle program office.
Language is being drafted; call the BABC to add you ideas and
opinions or for updates. (Rep. David Cohen)

    The Child Helmet bill requires adequate head protection for
children under five or under 40 pounds, as such children usually
can't chose whether or not to have that protection.  The bill
includes a liability exclusion, similar to that provided under
mandatory helmet laws for motorcyclists.  Head injury is the leading
cause of death and permanent brain damage to cyclists.
(refiled by Barbara Gray)

A packet of information including both legal language and
explanation is under preparation and will be available sometime in
January.  To get a copy, call or write the BABC and ask for a copy
of the Massachusetts bicycle legislation project.

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